Page 45 of The Dark Rising
I’ve had enough. I make my way down to the dining room. The smell of meat and vegetables hit me as soon as I pass through the door.
“Still the same?” Damian asks, the look of concern in his eyes unusual for the Heir of Zahariss. But since we have all learned about what she has been through, even Leo has been asking about her.
I shake my head and grab a plate, then begin filling it with food for her. She will eat today. Whether she likes it or not.
“Maybe if you would let us see her, she may be inclined to talk, toeat.“ I ignore Taylor and add more meat to the pile. It’s elk, boiled specifically as I requested, so it’s soft and easy to swallow.
“Darius!” Josh snarls, and slams his fork down on his plate. I pause, my hand hovering over the plate and I slowly, so slowly turn my eyes to him.
He looks ruffled, his bun askew at the back of his head and his eyes tired. I look at the other members of the pack and see the same exhausted look.
“What,” I grit out.
“Let us see her.”
“No.”
“This is ridiculous,” he says. “It would be for her benefit. We can get her to eat.”
“No.” She will eat from my hand or no others.
“I have seen the plates come back empty, what you are doing is not working. She doesn’t want anything to do with you,” Sebastian spits, and I resist the urge to put him through a wall.
“Brother,” Leo says, and my eyes swing toward him. I shake my head and grab more meat.
“You would think he would let someone else see her if it would help,” Colten mutters, and my fingers clench around the plate.
“He’s too far gone to allow that, pup,” Hudson replies and I ignore them.
“Any news on the crystal, Zaide?” Damian asks him.
“None, still have no idea of its location.”
“Keep looking,” I grunt. “Rhea needs to see it and then maybe we can have some more insight on the rogures.”
“Of course.”
“Why would Charles refuse to let you have it anyway?” Damian questions.
“Because he knows it is a lie.”
“Do you think he knows something is up with you requesting to see it again?”
“I don’t know. The last time I asked, I told him it was to study the rogures coming out of the ground, he said if I didn’t get anything the first time, I wont the next.”
“Definitely not suspicious then,” Sebastian snarks.
“Do you have any news on Sarah? Kade or the others?” Anna asks, and I look over at her.
“None other than what I have already told you.” She slumps in her chair, her arms folded as she looks toward the fireplace in thought.
“I’m sure they are fine,” Damian says around a mouthful of food.
“You have seen Rhea’s body,” she snaps. “Does that look fine to you?”
Silence fills the room after that, and a heavy weight enters the air.
I grind my teeth and grab the last strip of meat. Taking a cup with water, I leave the room without another word.
